Skip to main content
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard talks about the play of freshman Connor Essegian vs Lehigh

Gameday Guide: Wisconsin men's basketball vs. Western Michigan preview

All the updates and preview information surrounding Friday's basketball game at the Kohl Center, including how to watch Wisconsin versus Western Michigan.
  • Author:
  • Publish date:

In this story:

Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers

Ranking No. 15 now in the AP Poll, the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team enters Friday's matchup against Western Michigan looking to win their fifth game in a row. 

Having not played in two weeks because of weather concerns involving the Grambling State game, the Badgers are hoping to avoid a slow and finish off the 2022 portion of their schedule with a non-conference win. 

With that in mind, here is a preview of Wisconsin versus Western Michigan to help prepare for Friday night's matchup.

Game details and television information

  • Wisconsin Badgers (9-2 overall) vs. Western Michigan Broncos (4-8 overall)
  • Tip time is set for 7 p.m. CST at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
  • The game will be aired on Big Ten Network+
  • Matt Lepay will have the call on 1310 WIBA
  • Live stats

Series history

Friday's matchup will mark the second time that Wisconsin and Western Michigan have played in men's basketball. The Badgers won the only other meeting 80-68 all the way back in 1954. The head coach for Wisconsin at the time was Bud Foster, while the leading scorer was Dick Cable. 

The Badgers are 41-12 all-time against team's from the MAC. 

Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl shooting a three-pointer against Maryland at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl shooting a three-pointer at the Kohl Center against Maryland. 

Western Michigan season overview

The Broncos are under new leadership this season with former Marquette and Michigan State assistant Dwayne Stephens now at head coach. So far this season, the results have not necessarily been there, as Western Michigan is just 4-8. The Broncos narrowly lost to Minnesota by one-point in their opening game, and have additional losses to Valparaiso, Rice, Georgia Southern, Cleveland State, Dayton, Illinois-Chicago, and Iowa State. 

Western Michigan has yet to play any conference games this season, but come to the Kohl Center with a 1-game winning streak after beating Siena Heights 61-41 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Broncos average 68 points per game and are led by senior guard Lamar Norman Jr. who averages over 18 points per contest. 

Top scorers

Wisconsin

  • Tyler Wahl (F): 14.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game
  • Chucky Hepburn (G): 12 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game
  • Connor Essegian (G): 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game

Western Michigan

  • Lamar Norman Jr. (G): 18.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assist per game
  • Tray Maddox Jr. (G): 10.5 points, and 4.1 rebounds per game
  • Titus Wright (F): 7.3 points, and 4.8 rebounds per game
Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn dribbling the basketball against Marquette.

Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn taking his man off the dribble against Marquette at the Fiserv Forum. 

The biggest question for Wisconsin

Between exams and the cancellation of the Grambling State game, the Wisconsin Badgers have not played in multiple weeks. While that has helped them rise in the polls, it will be interesting to see if Wisconsin can jump right back into action without any rust. 

Western Michigan has not been great this season, but in a late-December non-conference game where the team has not played against a different opponent in quite awhile, there is a chance that Wisconsin could start a bit slow. The Badgers should be plenty fresh for Friday night's game, but can they start fast and never look back against an inferior opponent? 

Against Lehigh it took the team nearly an entire half to get comfortable, the hope has to be that it doesn't take as long against the Broncos. 

Game notes

  • The Badgers are currently 5-1 overall against Quad 1 and Quad 2 teams, and have six wins over KenPon Top-100 teams. 
  • Former Wisconsin guard Trevon Hughes is the honorary captain for UW.
  • Wisconsin is allowing 60.8 points per game this season. That number ranks third in the Big Ten, while the team ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten shooting 37% from three-point range. 
  • The Badgers are No. 13 in the country in turnovers per game, averaging just 10.3 per game. 
  • Connor Essegian is one of only five players to average 10 or more points in the first 11 games of a season as a freshman in the past 20 years at Wisconsin. 
  • Sophomore guard Chucky Hepburn ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten in three-point percentage at over 48%. 

Related links:

You can keep up to date on everything at All Badgers by liking + following our Facebook page and Twitter account:

Facebook - @AllBadgers
Twitter - @All_Badgers

You can also follow Site Publisher Matt Belz at @savedbythebelz on Twitter.

© 2024 ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. - All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators’ opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Gambling content intended for 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.